For many people, traditional soft contact lenses or glasses provide clear, comfortable vision. However, individuals with irregular corneas, chronic dry eye, or complex vision conditions often struggle to achieve comfortable, stable vision with conventional lenses. Scleral lenses have transformed vision correction for these patients by offering exceptional comfort, sharper vision, and therapeutic benefits that go far beyond standard contact lenses.
At Clinton Eye Associates, patients receive comprehensive eye care and advanced contact lens fittings tailored to their unique visual needs. If you’ve been told you’re not a good candidate for regular contact lenses or continue to experience discomfort despite multiple lens options, scleral lenses could be an excellent solution.
What Are Scleral Lenses?
Scleral lenses are large-diameter, gas-permeable contact lenses designed to rest on the white part of the eye (the sclera) rather than directly on the cornea. Unlike traditional contact lenses that sit on the corneal surface, scleral lenses create a smooth optical surface by vaulting completely over the cornea.
Before inserting the lens, it is filled with sterile saline solution. Once placed on the eye, the saline remains trapped between the lens and the cornea, creating a protective fluid reservoir that keeps the eye continuously hydrated throughout the day.
This unique design makes scleral lenses both a vision correction device and a therapeutic treatment for many eye conditions.
How Do Scleral Lenses Work?
Scleral lenses improve vision by masking irregularities in the cornea. Instead of light passing through an uneven corneal surface, it passes through the smooth front surface of the scleral lens, resulting in significantly clearer vision.
At the same time, the fluid reservoir beneath the lens protects sensitive corneal tissue from drying out, irritation, and environmental exposure.
The result is:
- Sharper vision
- Improved comfort
- Reduced light sensitivity
- Better moisture retention
- Enhanced eye protection
For many patients, scleral lenses provide vision quality that cannot be achieved with glasses or standard contact lenses.
Who Benefits from Scleral Lenses?
Scleral lenses are recommended for patients with a wide variety of vision and corneal conditions.
Keratoconus
Keratoconus causes the cornea to gradually thin and bulge into a cone shape, leading to distorted vision that glasses often cannot fully correct.
Scleral lenses vault over the irregular cornea, creating a smooth optical surface that dramatically improves vision while avoiding pressure on the sensitive cornea.
Severe Dry Eye Disease
Patients with severe dry eye often struggle to wear conventional contact lenses because the eyes lack sufficient tear production.
The fluid-filled chamber beneath a scleral lens continuously bathes the cornea in saline, providing lasting hydration and reducing symptoms such as:
- Burning
- Stinging
- Redness
- Foreign body sensation
- Blurry vision caused by dryness
Corneal Scarring
Scarring from infections, injuries, or previous eye surgery can create an uneven corneal surface.
Scleral lenses help compensate for these irregularities, allowing patients to achieve improved vision that glasses may not provide.
Post-LASIK or Post-Surgical Complications
Although most laser vision correction procedures are successful, some patients experience persistent irregularities or dry eye afterward.
Scleral lenses often restore both visual clarity and comfort when other options have been unsuccessful.
Corneal Transplants
Following a corneal transplant, the eye may heal with irregular curvature that makes glasses ineffective.
Specialty scleral lenses frequently provide excellent visual rehabilitation while minimizing pressure on the transplanted tissue.
Pellucid Marginal Degeneration
This rare corneal disorder creates irregular astigmatism similar to keratoconus.
Scleral lenses improve visual quality while providing a comfortable fit despite the altered corneal shape.
Irregular Astigmatism
Patients with highly irregular astigmatism resulting from injury, surgery, or corneal disease often achieve significantly better vision with scleral lenses than with traditional corrective lenses.
Advantages of Scleral Lenses
Exceptional Visual Clarity
By creating a perfectly smooth optical surface, scleral lenses often provide sharper, more stable vision than glasses or soft contact lenses for patients with complex eye conditions.
Outstanding Comfort
Although they are larger than traditional contact lenses, many patients find scleral lenses surprisingly comfortable because they rest on the less sensitive sclera rather than the highly sensitive cornea.
Continuous Hydration
The fluid reservoir beneath the lens protects the eye throughout the day, making scleral lenses one of the most effective treatments for severe ocular surface disease.
Stable Fit
Because scleral lenses are larger, they remain centered on the eye and move very little during blinking. This stability helps provide consistent vision throughout the day.
Eye Protection
The lens acts as a protective barrier that shields the cornea from dust, wind, debris, and mechanical irritation caused by blinking.
Conditions That May Improve with Scleral Lenses
Scleral lenses are commonly prescribed for patients with:
- Keratoconus
- Severe dry eye syndrome
- Sjögren’s syndrome
- Corneal ectasia
- Corneal scarring
- Corneal transplants
- Irregular astigmatism
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- Ocular graft-versus-host disease
- Neurotrophic keratitis
- Exposure keratopathy
- Persistent epithelial defects
- Complications following refractive surgery
What to Expect During a Scleral Lens Fitting
Scleral lenses require a highly specialized fitting process that differs significantly from a standard contact lens fitting.
During your evaluation, your eye doctor will perform:
- A comprehensive eye examination
- Corneal topography to map the shape of your cornea
- Measurements of your ocular surface
- Evaluation of tear film quality
- Trial lens fitting
- Assessment of lens clearance and alignment
Several adjustments may be made before your custom lenses are ordered to ensure the best possible fit, comfort, and vision.
Are Scleral Lenses Difficult to Use?
Learning to insert and remove scleral lenses takes practice because they are larger than conventional contact lenses.
Patients receive detailed instruction on:
- Filling the lens with sterile saline
- Proper insertion techniques
- Safe removal
- Cleaning procedures
- Daily maintenance
- Storage recommendations
Most patients become comfortable with handling their lenses after several days of practice.
How Long Do Scleral Lenses Last?
With proper care, scleral lenses often last one to three years, depending on the material, prescription changes, and overall lens condition.
Routine follow-up appointments help ensure the lenses continue to fit properly and maintain optimal eye health.
Caring for Scleral Lenses
Proper care is essential to protect both your lenses and your eyes.
Daily care includes:
- Washing hands before handling lenses
- Cleaning lenses after each use
- Using only doctor-recommended cleaning solutions
- Filling lenses with preservative-free sterile saline before insertion
- Replacing storage cases regularly
- Attending scheduled follow-up appointments
Following these guidelines helps minimize the risk of infection while extending the life of your lenses.
Are Scleral Lenses Right for You?
If you’ve experienced poor vision with glasses, discomfort with soft contacts, or have been diagnosed with a corneal condition, scleral lenses may provide a level of vision and comfort you never thought possible.
Patients who frequently benefit include those who:
- Have keratoconus
- Experience severe dry eye
- Have irregular corneas
- Have undergone corneal surgery
- Have failed with traditional contact lenses
- Want improved vision despite complex eye conditions
A comprehensive evaluation at Clinton Eye Associates can determine whether scleral lenses are the most appropriate option for your individual needs.
Why Choose Clinton Eye Associates for Specialty Contact Lens Care?
At Clinton Eye Associates, personalized care and advanced diagnostic technology help ensure every patient receives the most appropriate vision correction solution. Specialty contact lens fittings require experience, precision, and careful follow-up, and the team is dedicated to helping patients achieve the best possible visual outcomes.
Whether you have keratoconus, chronic dry eye, corneal scarring, or another complex vision condition, Clinton Eye Associates provides customized scleral lens fittings designed to improve both vision and comfort.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes scleral lenses different from regular contact lenses?
Scleral lenses rest on the sclera instead of the cornea and create a fluid-filled chamber over the eye. This design improves vision while keeping the cornea hydrated and protected.
Are scleral lenses comfortable?
Yes. Although they are larger than standard contact lenses, many patients find scleral lenses more comfortable because they avoid direct contact with the sensitive cornea.
Can scleral lenses help dry eyes?
Yes. One of the greatest advantages of scleral lenses is their ability to continuously hydrate the cornea, making them an excellent option for many patients with severe dry eye disease.
Are scleral lenses only for people with keratoconus?
No. They are also used to treat corneal scars, irregular astigmatism, corneal transplants, severe dry eye, post-surgical complications, and several other ocular surface disorders.
How long does a scleral lens fitting take?
Because each lens is custom-designed, the fitting process often involves multiple measurements and follow-up visits to achieve the ideal fit.
Can I wear scleral lenses every day?
Most patients wear scleral lenses daily. Your eye doctor will recommend a wearing schedule based on your eye health and individual condition.
Are scleral lenses covered by insurance?
Coverage varies depending on your insurance plan and the medical reason for the lenses. If they are prescribed for certain medical conditions, some insurance plans may provide partial or full coverage.
Do scleral lenses require special cleaning products?
Yes. They require specific cleaning and disinfecting solutions, along with preservative-free sterile saline for insertion. Your eye care provider will recommend the appropriate products.
Can older adults wear scleral lenses?
Absolutely. Age alone does not prevent someone from successfully wearing scleral lenses. Many older adults experience significant improvements in both comfort and vision.
How do I know if I’m a candidate for scleral lenses?
A comprehensive eye examination and specialty contact lens consultation at Clinton Eye Associates can determine whether scleral lenses are the best solution for your vision needs.
Contact Information
Clinton Eye Associates
116 E Main St #4
Clinton, CT 06413
Phone: (860) 669-2020
Website: clintoneye.com